PAGASA: 'Glenda' may be stronger than destructive 'Milenyo'

MANILA, Philippines — Approaching Tropical Storm "Glenda" can still intensify into a typhoon and could have winds stronger than those of a tropical cyclone that caused heavy damage in Metro Manila in 2006, the state weather bureau warned on Monday.

At a televised press briefing earlier this afternoon, PAGASA forecaster Rene Paciente said Glenda may hit the vicinity of Metro Manila and its track is almost similar to that of Tropical Storm "Milenyo."

The said storm toppled trees and billboards in Metro Manila and caused a widespread power outage in Luzon. It left over 200 people dead and caused P6 billion worth of damage in infrastructure and agriculture.

"Sa ngayon nasa karagatan pa siya (Glenda)... Matagal-tagal pa bago tatama sa kalupaan so inaasahan nating posible pang lumakas o maging typhoon," Paciente said.

"Kung tutuusin, si Milenyo dumaan sa atin storm lang 'yun," he added. "Ito kung maging typhoon siya, mas malakas ang hangin."

Glenda, the seventh tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, was located 470 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 500 kilometers east of Legazpi City, Albay, as of 5 p.m.

It was already packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 120 kph. It was forecast to move west at 30 kph.

The weather bureau has placed Catandunaes under public storm warning signal number 3.

Storm warning signal No. 2 was hoisted over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Sorsogon, Albay, Marinduque, the southern part of Quezon and northern Samar.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Southern Aurora, Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands, Metro Manila, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran Island.

Landfall

Paciente said Glenda will make landfall in the Bicol region between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Tuesday and then cross Camarines provinces heading to Quezon area.

"Glenda" will start affecting the Bicol region on Monday night and Quezon and Aurora provinces on Tuesday morning.

Metro Manila, Southern and Central Luzon will experience rains and gusty winds starting Tuesday and stormy weather in the evening until Wednesday.

Floods and landslides are also expected in Cagayan Valley, Centra Luzon, Metro Manila and Bicol region, according to Paciente.

He said "Glenda" will exit the landmass of Luzon by Tuesday evening. -Louis Bacani